Le Book’s networking event, Connections, has started in London today at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Pimlico, Pauline Lockwood and Deborah Sterescu were there to report.

The event gathers more than 1000 photographers, agents, art directors, fashion and photo editors, along with key executives in the fashion and music industries. Guests include representatives from Vogue, Vanity Fair, and the National Portrait Gallery, among others.

'The event is a face-to-face version of the book. It is a business affair where key creatives in the industries get to meet in person. We get approximately 2000 visitors over two days,' LeBook’s London office director, Fabien Duverneuil, tells BJP.

'Photographers don’t expect to come out of this event with a job. The key is to talk to people, network, and hope that people take away some of your print materials and most importantly, your web address. That way, people can see the work of the photographers we sign,' says Niall Horton Stephens of the Horton-Stephens agency based in London.

Connections has already been to Paris and New York this year, and is in its third year since its launch in November 2005.

In addition to organising the event, Le Book publishes a nine volume contacts book that covers photography, illustration, production, and art direction. The first book was published 27 years ago in Paris.

Visit www.lebook.com.